In this paper, an overview of factor data analysis methods is presented, as an alternative approach to classic statistical
methods and it is shown that they are a powerful tool for analyzing economic phenomena. The principles on which data
analysis methods are based are in a large degree inspired by physics, not only as general considerations but also as
specific concepts, terminologies and methods. The notions of energy, entropy and inertia are matched with information
theory, linear algebra and statistics to provide powerful tools for modeling and analyzing non-linear economic
phenomena. Considering that any phenomenon under study is a complex open dynamic system where a large number of
factors interact with each other, factor data analysis methods are able to examine such interactions as a whole, instead of
a set of independent pair-wise comparisons of factors. The mechanism underlying these methods is to map the problem
to a multidimensional vector space and based on the data themselves, to discover the underlying patterns, to find out how
series of figures organize and which variables or group of variables are correlated. Model construction is thus not
restricted to any initial assumption and is entirely driven by the data (Greenacre, 2007). In order to depict the potential of
such methods in economic analysis, we present the application of multiple correspondence analysis to the market
segmentation in the business plan for an internet radio venture.

Burnout is a variable that continues to sustain international research interest. The most
widely adopted tool measuring the burnout syndrome is the Maslach Burnout Inventory
(MBI). The present study attempted to examine the psychometric properties and
factorial structure of the MBI amongst a sample of 536 professional health specialists in
Greece. The results indicated satisfactory reliability through internal consistency for all
three dimensions. However, a factor analysis did not produce conclusive evidence of a
tripartite construct, but rather the predominance of a single primary factor (emotional
exhaustion), and a secondary factor (depersonalization). The results confirm previous
findings advocating the uni-factorial or bi-factorial nature of the construct.

The modern demands of the globalized economy have led to a mobilization of the local female
population, with the aim of developing entrepreneurial activities, both in the secondary and tertiary
sector of the economy. The development of entrepreneurial activities by women in rural areas is a
newly-emerging phenomenon that constitutes a driving force for local growth, by combating
unemployment among women and reinforcing women’s activities through agricultural policy measures.
This paper is based on research carried out within the framework of the project co-funded by the
European Social Fund and National Resources – EPEAEK II – ARCHIMIDIS, and concerns a sample
of 203 women’s agro-tourism companies or cooperatives functioning all over Greece. It examines the
relation between the corporate form of the agro-tourism enterprises and the monthly income gained, as
well as the various funding programmes, their relation with the initial capital invested, and the final
value of the investment. After studying the above-mentioned associations, conclusions are reached
pertaining to the form and growth of women’s entrepreneurship as regards agro-tourism activities.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate factors that might affect Greek and Armenian students’ attitudes and intentions in adopting smart phones. An empirical investigation was carried out. The sample included 951 students from Greece and Armenia. Users of smart phones were segmented into three clusters and the characteristics of each cluster were depicted. Additionally, gap analysis was employed in order to measure user disconfirmation of perceived smart phone quality. Moreover, we provided a deeper insight into identifying variables that affect the individual’s attitude towards adopting smart phones by employing technology acceptance model (TAM) as the base model. An enhanced TAM was tested in order to find out how willing Greek and Armenian students are in adopting new smart phones. Findings of this study will be helpful for marketers to develop proper strategies for marketing smart phones as well as to enable researchers to further study new dimensions of TAM.

The implementation of quality assurance systems in the global food market strengthens companies’ position and improves their competitiveness. After considering existing research findings regarding the implementation of quality assurance systems in enterprises in various economic sectors (food, non-food, manufacturing, and services), this paper examines the benefits or advantages, as well as the disadvantages or barriers, that may face small food enterprises implementing such systems. In this way, it is possible to identify the main internal and external factors which may affect the decision of a small food enterprise to adopt a quality assurance system. Several managerial, marketing, and policy implications are proposed related to the improvement of the business environment for adoption of quality assurance systems by small food enterprises.

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Hotel managers focus on identifying, creating or developing
competitive advantages that can be utilised in order to improve the
company’s economic performance and bottom line. This paper
attempts to identify those internal factors having enhanced the
financial performance in the Greek hospitality sector during 2008-
2010. The survey was conducted in Greek high-class hotel
companies and reveals that the enhancement of a hotel’s economic
performance can be achieved by the following key factors:
exceptional services; well-trained and highly motivated associates;
contemporary managerial approaches; pricing tactics maximising
the revenue per room; investments in new technology systems;
organization of activities keeping the guests (and the revenues)
within the premises; application of sustainable practices; niche
marketing and advertising so as to attract new guests; and, formal
cooperation with other tourism stakeholders. The findings of this
study are suggested as best practices for the hospitality industry.

To examine the use of library resources, focusing on e-sources, by the members of the faculty of a higher educational institute in Thessaloniki, Greece; to reveal the factors which influence the effective use of sources for academic duties; and to provide reliable information to both the administration and the library of the institute, with the aim of the improvement of library services.
Design/methodology/approach:
A census survey, using a structured questionnaire, among the faculty of the Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki was conducted to examine the frequency of use of resources, mainly e-sources, and to reveal the impact of demographic or academic situational characteristics, the assumed positive influence of academic productivity, perceived usefulness of resources and access to e-sources on the use of e-sources as well as the assumed negative influence of barriers and computer anxiety on the use of e-sources.
Findings:
The great majority of the faculty of TEI uses printed sources more than e-sources, but they also use e-sources quite frequently. Use is mostly of books, websites and printed journals. It was also found that the use of e-sources is higher in the School of Business Administration and Economics among those who hold a PhD degree and among younger members of the faculty. Also, the results indicated that the use of e-sources is positively influenced by the respondents' perceived usefulness of resources, the convenience of access to the sources and their academic productivity. The examination of the computer anxiety rating scale (CARS) provided evidence that the less anxious the faculty feel about PCs, the more frequent users they become.
Research limitations/implications:
Further research is needed to measure how faculty interact with information, what kind of electronic sources they prefer, what search strategies they use, as well as whether their information needs are satisfied. This research needs to be duplicated to other universities in Greece to determine whether the results can be generalized for Greek academic faculty.
Practical implications:
University administrations need to improve library facilities, to include more workstations for access to electronic sources, as well as to improve the marketing and communication of these e-sources.
Originality/value:
This research tries to fill a gap in the literature, which has underemphasized so far the need for assessing and measuring the use of library resources in Greek academic libraries and the examination of the factors that influence this use.

This paper presents the results of an exploratory survey with reference to consumers’ intentions to buy fair products. Consumers’ preferences with regard to a new, fair marmalade were also examined. The results indicated that middle aged employees, who earn rather respectable incomes, are more likely to buy fair products. They are people, who hold strong beliefs about the protection of the human and working rights of people in the Third World; they do support a fair price for the products of the marginalized producers. They are also motivated by their strong values regarding protection of the nature, peace, equality and help to the needed. They less strongly believe that their purchases through the Fair Trade network are able to challenge the poverty in the under developed countries. Further, it was found that the Fair Trade Hellas may very well add a new marmalade in the product line, which should be organic at a reasonable price. Nuts or honey might be added in this new, fair marmalade.

Against free trade, another type of trade, namely Fair Trade, offers to small producers in the underdeveloped countries of the Third World a guaranteed minimum price for each product. Fair Trade increased rapidly during the last decade in Europe and North America, while in Greece it has been recently introduced by the Altromercato shops in Athens and Thessaloniki. The Fair Trade Hellas also developed a group of supporters.
This paper presents the results of a preliminary on-line research study that examined supporters’ intentional purchasing behaviour towards all available fair trade products; also their preferences about a new fair trade marmalade. The investigation included a set of variables that may influence future behaviour, such as consumers’ level of awareness, their prior buying experiences, their attitudes towards fair principles and objectives, as well as selected demographic and psychographic characteristics of the sample.
It was found that supporters would like to buy mostly fair snacks, coffee, pasta, rice, sugar and souvenirs. With regard to a new fair marmalade, supporters prefer this to be offered at a reasonable price and to be organic by all means. Also, it might be produced in two types, one that might contain nuts and another that might contain honey. It was also found that these consumers hold very strong positive attitudes towards principles, objectives and effectiveness of the fair trade movement. They are very scrupulous people, who share strong universalistic and collectivistic values, while low levels of power and individualism.
Though limited due to the small response rate, the results of this study open significant paths for future research in order to understand better the insights of the ethical consumption that concerns the fair trade products in Greece.

Statistical multi-parameter circuit simulation is used in this work, in order to estimate the fault detection probability in cases where double analogue measurements are utilized. Theoretical analysis for the estimation of the detectability is given, based on conditional probability calculations. The proposed technique can also be applied for test measurement selection. Simulation results from the application of the method on an analogue filter circuit are given, showing a sufficient improvement over the detectability achieved by single measurements.

Fault detection in linear bipolar integrated circuits using power supply current measurements is investigated. The most prevalent, catastrophic and parametric faults, have been modelled for the representative (741 type) op amp. The circuit is simulated in both linear and non-linear operations. Comparative results between power supply current and output voltage measurements are given, showing the improvement in fault coverage by the use of the current sensing method

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Analogue fault diagnosis can be addressed by expert systems using artificial intelligence methodologies. The structure of such an expert system and its main features are presented in this paper. As a special feature, knowledge which is obtained through the waveforms of specific parameters of the circuit under test is presented. Techniques for comparison between waveforms and conclusion extraction are described. Demonstrative examples of fault location using the expert system are given.

In this paper, the selection of fault tolerance limits and input stimulus using an implemented adaptive FPGA-based testing system based on a method utilizing wavelet transformation of the current waveforms is presented. The testing scheme is innovative because it offers the ability of applying different input stimulus signals with respect to the requirements of the examined circuit. Moreover, the method used is simple, offers a single-point test measurement solution and may easily be adapted to test various other analog and mixed-signal systems. Experimental results are presented showing the advantages of the proposed testing scheme.

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The present book is addressed in students of geotechnical faculties as well as in each geotechnical that deal with the diet of rural animals in level of research or agricultural applications.Το παρόν βιβλίο απευθύνεται σε φοιτητές των γεωτεχνικών σχολών καθώς και σε κάθε γεωτεχνικό που ασχολείται με τη διατροφή των αγροτικών ζώων σε επίπεδο έρευνας ή γεωργικών εφαρμογών.

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